Wire stripper and cutter

ABSTRACT

A shank having a handle fixed on one end and a tubular part slidably telescoped on the other end, with coacting cutting edges on the shank and tube for stripping and cutting wire. Carried on the shank between the handle and tube is an adjustable stop member for limiting engagement with a formation of the tube for operation on different sizes of wire.

United States Patent Van Dalen et al. 1 Jan. 25, 1972 [5 WIRE STRIPPER AND CUTTER eferences Cited [72] Inventors: Leonard Van Dalen, Cherry Hill; George UNITED STATES PATENTS Gadm Oaklyn bah 2,770,989 11/1956 Bologno Si/9.5 R {73] Assignee: Seaboard Fabricators, Inc. 3,] 14,277 12/1963 Clendenin ..30/90.l UX

Filed: 1970 Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee 2 App], N 57 095 Assitrtant ExaminerRoscoe V. Parker, Jr

i 7 AttorneyR0bert K.Youtie [57] ABSTRACT A shank having a handle fixed on one end and a tubular part slidably telescoped on the other end, with coacting cutting [52] US. Cl. 81/95 R, 7/ 14.1 edges on the shank and tube for stripping and cutting wire [51] Int. Cl. ..H02g 1/12 Carried on the shank between the handle and tube is an ad- [58] Field of Search ..81/9.5 R, 9.5 C; 30/901, 91.2; justable stop member for limiting engagement with a f 7/14 1 1 F tion of the tube for operation on different sizes ofwire.

6 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN25|972 163 39 sum 1 or 3 m revraer. GEORGE 5. GADREN LEONARD VAN DALEN 5.1; I fwd W PATENIEU JAHZS 1972 SHEET 2 OF 3 //Vl/A/70/P GEORGE s. GADREN LEONAR D VAN DALEN mzww W i'AIFNH U JAM. m2

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ATTORNEX WIRE STRIPFER AND CUTTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION While there have, in the past, been proposed various devices for cutting and/or stripping wire, such devices have not been entirely satisfactory for many reasons, and therefore have not met wide general acceptance. For example, prior wire strippers and/or cutters were lacking in versatility for operation on a wide variety of wire sizes, and when usable on different sizes of wire were inconvenient to adjust or limited in range. Further, prior wire stripping and cutting devices being convenient as cutters were inaccurate and required a high degree of skill and experience for use as strippers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a combination wire stripper and cutter which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties, is extremely simple to use even by persons of little or no experience and skill, capable of use throughout a wide range of wire sizes, and which is quickly and accurately adjustable to any selected size of wire within the range.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wire stripper and cutter having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is extremely simple in construction, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, and which is capable of economic mass production for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal elevation illustrating a wire stripper and cutter constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, in an inoperative or rest condition.

FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line 22 of FIG. I, illustrating the rest position.

FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial longitudinal view similar to FIG. I, but illustrating the stripping position of the tool for operation on wire size No. 18.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and illustrating, in phantom, a wire being stripped.

FIG. 6 is a partial longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the instant device at rest preparatory to a wirecutting operation.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal view similar to FIG. 6, but illustrating the wire stripper and cutter in its cutting condition of use.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7, and illustrating, in phantom, a wire being operated upon.

FIG. 9 is a partial longitudinal view similar to FIG. I, the stripper and cutter device being shown at rest and adjusted for stripping operation of a No. 12 wire.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal view similar to FIG. 9, illustrating the device in condition for stripping a No. 12 wire.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal elevational view similar to FIG. I, but showing a slightly modified embodiment of wire stripper and cutter constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. I2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a developed plan view of the stop member of the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and I2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGS. II0 thereof, a wire stripper and cutter of the present invention is generally designated 10 in FIG. I, being shown therein as including at one end a handgrip or handle II to be grasped by a user, and a tubular member 12 at the other end having its distal portion tapering, as at I3, and provided therein with a longitudinally outwardly extending blade 14, which may be of a screwdriver type.

Considering the internal structure of the device 10, as seen in FIG. 2, a rigid rod or shank of generally straight, cylindrical configuration is designated I6, and has one end fixedly secured to the handle 11. The rigid shank or rod I6 may be provided externally thereabout in the region adjacent to handle II with screw threads, as at 17, while the opposite, distal end of shank 16 may be formed with a diametrically extending, open-ended, generally V-shaped groove 18, which is disposed obliquely or diagonally with respect to the axis of the shank. That is, the groove 18 of V shape has one edge region 20 defined by an acute angle, while its other edge region 21 is defined by an obtuse angle. Thus, the end edge 20 of the V- shaped notch or cutout 18 may be considered as a cutting edge, as will appear hereinafter in greater detail.

Circumposed about the shank I6 is a stop member, generally designated 23, which may assume the form of a generally cylindrical sleeve or collar. The collar or stop member 23 may be internally threaded, as at 24 for threaded circumposed engagement about the shank thread 17, whereby the stop member or collar is axially displaceable along the shank 16 upon rotation thereof in threaded engagement with the shank.

The cylindrical collar, sleeve or stop member 23 has its lower end, as seen in the drawing, externally tapering, as at 25, to terminate in an end edge 26 of reduced thickness. Further, the stop member or collar 23 may be internally recessed or cut away, as at 27 internally in a cylindrical formation from the end edge 26 to terminate in an internal end wall 28. Thus, the lower end region of stop member or collar 23 is disposed in spaced relation about the shank 26, to leave an annular opening or space 29 between the shank and collar.

Adjacent to the lower, reduced end edge 26 of the annular collar or stop member 23, there are provided externally thereon a series of numerical markings, each having associated therewith an indicator or line, as at 31, the markings representing wire sizes, as will appear presently. Between certain of the wire size markings the annular stop member or collar 23 is externally marked with terminology, such as the word CUT." In adjacent relation with each such word marking, longitudinally of the collar, the edge region 25 is notched or cut away, as at 32, so as to open downwardly through the collar end edge 26. If desired, suitable frictional grasping means 33, such as knurling, may be provided externally on the stop member 23.

The tubular member I2 is slidably telescoped over the lower, free end of shank 16, the upper open end 35 of the tube 12 receiving the shank 16 and being slidable thereon for entry into and withdrawal from the recess or annular opening 29 within the stop member 23. A longitudinal slot, as at 36, may be fonned in the tube 12, slidably receiving a radially projecting pin, lug or constraining member 37 fixed to the shank I6. In this manner, the tube 12 is limited to longitudinal sliding movement on the shank of a predetermined magnitude. Also, suitable resilient means, such as a coil compression spring 38, may be employed to resiliently urge the tube I2 toward its longitudinally outward limiting position with respect to the shank 16. That is, the coil spring 38 is circumposed about the shank, being located in the space 29 and having its opposite ends respectively engaging the interior collar end wall 28, and the tube end wall 35, so as to resiliently and yieldably urge the tube to its outer limiting position with the pin 37 engaging the upper end of its receiving slot 36.

The tube 12 is formed at a location spaced below the slot 36, with a pair of diametrically opposed through holes 40 and 41, which combine with the hollow interior of the tube to define a diametrically extending passageway through the tube. Further, the tube openings or holes 40 and 41 are respectively located adjacent to the end edges 21 and 20 of the V-shaped notch 18. This condition is well illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5. it will also there be seen that the upwardly facing, lower edge region of opening 41 is inclined inwardly to form an acute angle or cutting edge 42 for cooperative shearing coaction with the shank edge 20. Also, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upwardly extending cutting edge 42 of hole 41 is configured in the shape of an upright V, for unique coaction with the inverted V- shaped configuration of notch 18, in the manner of a rectangular opening, as seen in FIG. 4.

Carried externally on the tube 12 may be a radially projecting pin, lug or other abutment means, as at 45, which is movable with the tube 12 into limiting abutting engagement with the stop member 23, as will appear more fully presently.

One mode of operation of the instant device is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. it will there be seen that the annular collar or stop member 23 has been rotated about its threaded shank 16 to an uppermost position with the wire size marking No. 18 in longitudinal alignment with abutment means 45. The tube 12 may then be telescopically retracted or shifted upward to the position of FIG. 4 with the abutment means 45 engaging the lower edge 26 of stop member 23. in this condition, the coacting cutting edges 20 and 42 combine to define a generally rectangular through opening, as seen in FIG. 4. This through opening is sized to permit passage therethrough of a wire conductor size No. 18, but not to permit passage therethrough of the wire insulation. Thus, as seen in FIG. 5, a wire of size No. 18 passed through openings 40 and 41, may be stripped by telescopic retraction of tube 12, and removal of the severed insulation.

When it is desired to cut or sever a wire completely through, it is only necessary to rotate the stop member to align the abutment means 45 with one of the cut notches 32, as seen in FIG. 6. Retraction of the tube 12, as by manual depression of the handle 11 with the blade 14 against a resisting surface, then serves to completely close the opening or hole 41 by the shank 12, while leaving the hole or opening 40 partially open for removal therethrough of a severed wire portion, see FIG. 8.

H65. 9 and 10 are similar to FIGS. 1 and 4, but illustrate the device 10 adjusted for stripping a larger size wire, namely No. 12 wire. it would be appreciated that the annular stop member 23 has been rotated into position away from the handle 11, to locate the marking 12" in alignment with the abutment means 45. By this adjustment, the tube 12 is further limited against upward or retracting movement relative to the shaft 16.

In the slightly modified embodiment of FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, a wire stripper and cutter is there generally designated 10a, and includes a rigid rod or shank 16a which is similar to the shank 16, but is absent the screw threads 17. That is, the shank 16 may be generally cylindrical and smooth throughout its length, having the handle 11 fixed on its upper end. An annular retaining member or ring 15 may be fixed about the shank 16a adjacent to the handle 11, and an annular sleeve or stop collar 23a may be circumposed about the shank 160 with one end adjacent to and retained by the retaining ring 15. The annular stop member or collar 23a may be freely rotatable about the shank 16a, the threaded engagement therebetween of the first-described embodiment being absent.

A tube 12, which may be the 'same as the tube 12 of the firstdescribed embodiment, is telescopically engaged on the shank 16a, interengagement there between being constrained by lower end of shank 16a is confi ured as by a notch 18 in the same manner as the first-descn ed shank 16, while the tube 12 may have diametrically opposed through openings 40 and 41 as in the first-described embodiment.

The annular collar or stop member 2311 differs from the first-described stop member 23 in being freely rotatable about the shank, and resiliently retained by a coil compression spring 38a in position against the retaining means 15. Further, the lower end edge 26a of the sleeve 23a is cut away or notched, as best seen in H68. 11 and 13, by a series of progressively deeper notches 30, each being provided adjacent thereto with a numerical marking representing a particular wire size. At certain locations along the stop member edge 26a, there may be formed one or more relatively deep cutouts or notches 34, each being provided adjacent thereto with the word marking CUT.

By this arrangement, a stripping condition for a particular wire size is assumed by rotation of the annular stop member or collar 23a to locate the particular notch 30 in alignment with the abutment means 45. That is, the abutment means or collar 23a does not move longitudinally of the shank 160, so that a deeper or shallower notch 30 aligned with abutment means 45 permits of a smaller or larger opening being defined by the cooperating cutting edges 20 and 42. Of course, the relatively large notches marked cut permit of complete severance of a wire by the coacting cutting edges.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a wire stripper and cutter which is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, distribution and use, and which otherwise fully accomplishes its intended objects.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A wire stripper and cutter comprising a shank, a handle fixed to one end of said shank, a cutting edge on the other end of said shank, a tube disposed longitudinally of and slidably circumposed about said shank having one end extending beyond said cutter, said tube having a pair of diametrically opposed holes combining to define a through opening, a complementary cutting edge on the bounding edge of one of said holes for shearing cooperation with said shank cutting edge upon sliding movement of said tube, a stop member rotatably circumposed about said shank intermediate said handle and tube for selective rotative adjustment, and abutment means on said tube for limiting engagement with said stop member to control the depth of shearing cooperation between said cutting edges.

2. A wire stripper and cutter according to claim 1, said stop member comprising an annular collar having one annular edge engageable with said abutment means to effect said controlled depth of shearing cooperation, said collar being provided at circumferentially spaced locations thereabout with markings indicating wire sizes to be stripped.

3. A wire stripper and cutter according to claim 2, said collar having said one end edge spaced radially from said shank for receiving the adjacent end of said tube within said collar.

4. A wire stripper and cutter according to claim 3, said abutment means comprising a radial lug on said tube adjacent to and spaced from said adjacent tube end.

5. A wire stripper and cutter according to claim 2, said one annular end edge of said collar being stepped for engagement at different limits with said abutment means.

6. A wire cutter and stripper according to claim 2, said collar being threadedly circumposed about said shank for adjustment longitudinally of said shank upon collar rotation. 

1. A wire stripper and cutter comprising a shank, a handle fixed to one end of said shank, a cutting edge on the other end of said shank, a tube disposed longitudinally of and slidably circumposed about said shank having one end extending beyond said cutter, said tube having a pair of diametrically opposed holes combining to define a through opening, a complementary cutting edge on the bounding edge of one of said holes for shearing cooperation with said shank cutting edge upon sliding movement of said tube, a stop member rotatably circumposed about said shank intermediate said handle and tube for selective rotative adjustment, and abutment means on said tube for limiting engagement with said stop member to control the depth of shearing cooperation between said cutting edges.
 2. A wire stripper and cutter according to claim 1, said stop member comprising an annular collar having one annular edge engageable with said abutment means to effect said coNtrolled depth of shearing cooperation, said collar being provided at circumferentially spaced locations thereabout with markings indicating wire sizes to be stripped.
 3. A wire stripper and cutter according to claim 2, said collar having said one end edge spaced radially from said shank for receiving the adjacent end of said tube within said collar.
 4. A wire stripper and cutter according to claim 3, said abutment means comprising a radial lug on said tube adjacent to and spaced from said adjacent tube end.
 5. A wire stripper and cutter according to claim 2, said one annular end edge of said collar being stepped for engagement at different limits with said abutment means.
 6. A wire cutter and stripper according to claim 2, said collar being threadedly circumposed about said shank for adjustment longitudinally of said shank upon collar rotation. 